By Virginia DiBianca
I have lived in New Jersey all my life and, in the last 30 years, in Wayne a town about 15 miles from Mahwah. When I first moved there, somebody mentioned that I should be careful of a group known as “The Jackson Whites”. They explained that they were an inbred tribe of mountain people who were mentally retarded and would attack people that tried to infiltrate their land. I believed them and never ventured towards Ringwood or Mahwah if I could help it. It wasn’t until I read an article entitled “Strangers on the Mountain” in the March 1, 2010 issue of The New Yorker magazine I discovered the truth about these so called clansmen. Officially, they were a tribe of Indians called the Ramapoughs that settled in areas of Ringwood and Mahwah, raising their children and living off the land to sustain their lifestyle. Living off the land turned out to be their biggest danger.
I learned in the expose’ “Toxic Legacy," that Ford contaminated the Ringwood area the Ramapough Indians lived by disposing of toxic paint sludge. The site was the ideal location for dumping as it met the standard set by Ford - the property was inhabited by low-class people. Ford bought the former iron mining community and turned it into a hazardous waste dump. Attempts by a Ford engineer to convince the company’s executives to invest on a system that would effectively dispose of the paint residue through a safe method was rejected. They claimed that the expense involved in removing the paint was determined to be more than the cost of the paint itself. While this were true, Ford spent over $2 million dollars on the initial clean up, plus attorney expenses that are still ongoing. It has since paid much more in additional cleanup work and because of lawsuits by residents.
The Ramapoughs are struggling with health issues that include various cancers that have claimed the lives of children and adults. There are learning disabilities amongst its children that are credited to high levels of lead found in the ground. 23% of the Ramapough teenagers do not finish high school. While the drop out rate may not be related directly to the toxins, it is a side affect that coincides with how they are treated. They are teased in school for being who they are. They suffer from ailments such as asthma and skin rashes that lead to low attendance. The dumping of lead in their backyard did not help.
Whatever the Ramapoughs are, they were a community that was mistreated and misunderstood. This Indian tribe lived their life within their boundaries, working to support their simple lifestyle. Along came the Ford Motor Company, which decided these people were not worthy of that. The tribe is being broken up as the children are abandoning their heritage and looking to escape their fate by relocating to other areas. In an old movie, Casablanca, there is a line that goes, “human life is cheap." It is never truer than the way Ford mistreated their neighbors and the state of New Jersey.
Showing posts with label ford motor company. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ford motor company. Show all posts
Friday, February 4, 2011
Toxic Footprints: A Walk of Shame
By Daniel Savino
As individuals, one of the greatest achievements we can strive for is to contribute to society in ways that will echo posthumously. As reported by The Record, “Toxic Legacy” is a stark reminder that leaving a mark is not always a good thing. In 1980, a particular plant operated by Ford was shut down after 25 years of producing cars. They continue to leave destructive footprints all over an otherwise beautiful, forest landscape in northern New Jersey.
The paint that was dumped over the area by Ford serves as much more than an eye sore. The polluting waste is full of cancer-causing heavy metals and hazardous chemicals that threaten water supplies and the health of locals in the surrounding area. According to The Record, millions of gallons of paint sludge were dumped in a remote section of Ringwood where a group of people called the Ramapoughs were living. Tests found hazardous chemicals such as arsenic and lead in the sludge, some at 100 times the level the government considers safe. Kelly Degroat, a longtime resident of the area, watched her son die at 10 years old of a rare bone cancer. Cases such as this suggest that the pollution may very well be to blame.
The Record even found evidence that organized crime played a part in the dumping of Ford’s hazardous waste. The newspaper claims that the mob “bribed, threatened, even murdered to maintain control of Ford’s trash.” In 1979, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took its first tour of the damage. However, to this day, a full clean up has yet to be undertaken. Corruption and corporate greed have played a significant role in this injustice. Recently, a fifth clean up has been orchestrated by Ford and the EPA, promising to be the most comprehensive effort to date.
There are iron mines in the polluted area that Ford used to dump “thousands of tons of industrial waste” that have yet to be cleaned up. Ford finally agreed to investigate the caves. However, the agreement made with the EPA has no stipulation for Ford to clean any material they find. Ford has repeatedly dodged as much responsibility as possible and the EPA has done little in the way of forcing Ford’s hand.
Perhaps most daunting is the fact that the sludge in Ringwood may very well impact all of North Jersey. The dumping ground is uphill from the rest of the state and threatens a very important source of drinking water called the Wanaque Reservoir. The longer the pollution goes without being tended to, the greater the risk to peoples’ drinking water. In 1980, a federal Superfund law was enacted to hold companies responsible for “eliminating or abating industrial waste that endangers public health or the environment.” However, this has only done so much. In 1994, it was reported that Ford was removed from the Superfund list because the area was clean. However, residents continued to find more paint sludge in years following and this “toxic legacy” drags on to this day.
Without government involvement, accountability and stricter environmental regulations, there will never be justice. Simply put, if nothing changes, nothing changes. It is an undeniable fact that the ultimate concern and goal of any corporation is profit. Corporate success is gauged strictly on the basis of how much money they make. As long as stocks are up and investors are happy, corporations like Ford are willing to destroy anything and anyone in their path. If we continue to allow these massive entities to have free reign there is no guarantee that our planet will survive. The individual who loses their job is of no concern to a corporation, nor are our natural resources. “Toxic Legacy” is an eye-opening, sobering reinforcement of this fact.
As individuals, one of the greatest achievements we can strive for is to contribute to society in ways that will echo posthumously. As reported by The Record, “Toxic Legacy” is a stark reminder that leaving a mark is not always a good thing. In 1980, a particular plant operated by Ford was shut down after 25 years of producing cars. They continue to leave destructive footprints all over an otherwise beautiful, forest landscape in northern New Jersey.
The paint that was dumped over the area by Ford serves as much more than an eye sore. The polluting waste is full of cancer-causing heavy metals and hazardous chemicals that threaten water supplies and the health of locals in the surrounding area. According to The Record, millions of gallons of paint sludge were dumped in a remote section of Ringwood where a group of people called the Ramapoughs were living. Tests found hazardous chemicals such as arsenic and lead in the sludge, some at 100 times the level the government considers safe. Kelly Degroat, a longtime resident of the area, watched her son die at 10 years old of a rare bone cancer. Cases such as this suggest that the pollution may very well be to blame.
The Record even found evidence that organized crime played a part in the dumping of Ford’s hazardous waste. The newspaper claims that the mob “bribed, threatened, even murdered to maintain control of Ford’s trash.” In 1979, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took its first tour of the damage. However, to this day, a full clean up has yet to be undertaken. Corruption and corporate greed have played a significant role in this injustice. Recently, a fifth clean up has been orchestrated by Ford and the EPA, promising to be the most comprehensive effort to date.
There are iron mines in the polluted area that Ford used to dump “thousands of tons of industrial waste” that have yet to be cleaned up. Ford finally agreed to investigate the caves. However, the agreement made with the EPA has no stipulation for Ford to clean any material they find. Ford has repeatedly dodged as much responsibility as possible and the EPA has done little in the way of forcing Ford’s hand.
Perhaps most daunting is the fact that the sludge in Ringwood may very well impact all of North Jersey. The dumping ground is uphill from the rest of the state and threatens a very important source of drinking water called the Wanaque Reservoir. The longer the pollution goes without being tended to, the greater the risk to peoples’ drinking water. In 1980, a federal Superfund law was enacted to hold companies responsible for “eliminating or abating industrial waste that endangers public health or the environment.” However, this has only done so much. In 1994, it was reported that Ford was removed from the Superfund list because the area was clean. However, residents continued to find more paint sludge in years following and this “toxic legacy” drags on to this day.
Without government involvement, accountability and stricter environmental regulations, there will never be justice. Simply put, if nothing changes, nothing changes. It is an undeniable fact that the ultimate concern and goal of any corporation is profit. Corporate success is gauged strictly on the basis of how much money they make. As long as stocks are up and investors are happy, corporations like Ford are willing to destroy anything and anyone in their path. If we continue to allow these massive entities to have free reign there is no guarantee that our planet will survive. The individual who loses their job is of no concern to a corporation, nor are our natural resources. “Toxic Legacy” is an eye-opening, sobering reinforcement of this fact.
Preventing Paint Pollution
By Jessica Vasquez
As early as the 1960s, Ford Motor Company began dumping paint sludge in various locations of New Jersey such as Ringwood and Mahwah; the dumping was not done in approved landfills. This would seem like an act of improper waste disposal, but little else to the common person who knows little about the chemicals in such a by-product. For the Ramapoughs, this knowledge came when citizens became severely ill after their homes were surrounded by dump sites. Children experienced nose bleeds after playing where dumping had taken place. As rain washed over these dump sites, chemicals reached the local rivers, a vital source of water to the people. By ingesting the chemicals this way, some residents suffered from various cancers resulting in death. We can only hope that something like this will not be tolerated in the future and everyone will play a part in preventing such problems.
It must be made clear that such a tragic act was preventable and anyone who uses paint should know how to properly dispose of unused paint. There is a right and wrong way to dispose of left-over paint. For example, paint should never be dumped down a drain or simply thrown in the garbage. This could lead to hazardous chemicals in the paint such as lead, arsenic and xylems to leach into water supply and eventually enter consumers’ systems, resulting in severe health issues.
To prevent chemical pollution and serious health risk always use up all the paint you have. Apply an extra coat to the project you are working on, add color to that dark and bland space in your closet or cabinets, or even donate your left-over paint to a community group such as a local theatre. Don’t think you have enough to complete an extra project or cannot find a group or person who could use the paint? If you only have an inch or two left in the paint can, the paint can be poured into a plastic or paper bag to dry layer by layer. The can should then be recycled. This can also be done by simply leaving the lid off and letting the paint evaporate on its own time, which could take a couple weeks depending on how much is left.
Remember, the first step to preventing an abundance of left over paint is to measure the surface you plan to paint and ask for the appropriate amount from the associate at your local hardware store. After each paint job, wipe excess paint from the brush or roller onto newspaper to dry and be thrown away. Rinse brushes and rollers at an interior sink so the residue will be treated at a sewage plant. Keeping these simple tips in mind will let you do your part in preventing harmful paint chemicals from entering the environment and ultimately someone’s body.
As early as the 1960s, Ford Motor Company began dumping paint sludge in various locations of New Jersey such as Ringwood and Mahwah; the dumping was not done in approved landfills. This would seem like an act of improper waste disposal, but little else to the common person who knows little about the chemicals in such a by-product. For the Ramapoughs, this knowledge came when citizens became severely ill after their homes were surrounded by dump sites. Children experienced nose bleeds after playing where dumping had taken place. As rain washed over these dump sites, chemicals reached the local rivers, a vital source of water to the people. By ingesting the chemicals this way, some residents suffered from various cancers resulting in death. We can only hope that something like this will not be tolerated in the future and everyone will play a part in preventing such problems.
It must be made clear that such a tragic act was preventable and anyone who uses paint should know how to properly dispose of unused paint. There is a right and wrong way to dispose of left-over paint. For example, paint should never be dumped down a drain or simply thrown in the garbage. This could lead to hazardous chemicals in the paint such as lead, arsenic and xylems to leach into water supply and eventually enter consumers’ systems, resulting in severe health issues.
To prevent chemical pollution and serious health risk always use up all the paint you have. Apply an extra coat to the project you are working on, add color to that dark and bland space in your closet or cabinets, or even donate your left-over paint to a community group such as a local theatre. Don’t think you have enough to complete an extra project or cannot find a group or person who could use the paint? If you only have an inch or two left in the paint can, the paint can be poured into a plastic or paper bag to dry layer by layer. The can should then be recycled. This can also be done by simply leaving the lid off and letting the paint evaporate on its own time, which could take a couple weeks depending on how much is left.
Remember, the first step to preventing an abundance of left over paint is to measure the surface you plan to paint and ask for the appropriate amount from the associate at your local hardware store. After each paint job, wipe excess paint from the brush or roller onto newspaper to dry and be thrown away. Rinse brushes and rollers at an interior sink so the residue will be treated at a sewage plant. Keeping these simple tips in mind will let you do your part in preventing harmful paint chemicals from entering the environment and ultimately someone’s body.
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